On 9.23.09, we invite you to New York City's Central Park, East Meadow for Feel Free, an event that celebrates and pays tribute to the National Parks. Feel Free is designed to engage you in celebrating what has been described as one of America's best ideas. Join Ken Burns, Alison Krauss, Carole King and [Eric Benet, Gavin DeGraw, Jose Feliciano and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas] for an evening of song and film. NO TICKETS REQUIRED. JUST ADDED: COUNTING CROWS AND AUGUSTANA

The event is the public premiere of Ken Burns's upcoming film The National Parks: America's Best Idea, and will be broadcast "via satellite to PBS affiliates and other partners assembled in various locations around the country." A video preview of the movie, and the event flyer, below...

Continue reading "Ken Burns' National Parks party in Central Park Wednesday - free show w/ Alison Krauss, Counting Crows & more "

photos by Tim Griffin

"I went to Pettyfest 2009 at Bowery Ballroom [Thursday] night, which was sick. Lots of drunk and stoned people shouting along to the hits and some great performers-- Nicole Atkins, Adam Green, Steve Schiltz, Antony Ellis, members of The Strokes and The Killers.

One of my favorite performances-- and this took me by surprise -- was the dude from Augustana singing "You Got Lucky." They're not a band I generally have a strong opinion about one way or another, but his voice was sick and he had a commanding presence-- like a subdued Mick Jagger with the wrist at the hips with a dash of Joe Cocker in the vocal tone." [EYTAN]

Jesse Malin, Hymns, Teenage Prayers, The Pierces, and members of Little Joy, Love as Laughter, Longwave (Steve) and Five O'clock Heroes (Anthony) were also among those who performed Tom Petty songs at the show. Most of the Killers were there. It was a night off on their current tour with Wolfmother (who used the evening to play a show at Bowery Electric right down the avenue). Kid Rock was there too (are you scared yet?), but didn't perform. He was in town to play a benefit at Terminal 5 one night earlier. More pictures and some pictures of the setlist below...

Continue reading "PettyFest @ Bowery Ballroom - setlist & pics (Adam Green, Strokes & Killers members, Nicole Atkins, Kid Rock, more)"